The Philadelphia Flyers tried their best to make a splash in the offseason, in the form of a five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson. But the Ducks matched the offer. From there, as Flyers fans waited for general manager Danny Briere to make another move, they opted to run with the roster as is heading into the season.
Even though the Flyers didn't make a move, they do have the resources to do so in the future. That could be at the trade deadline or even next offseason. There is one big name that the NHL world is focused on, and that's Quinn Hughes, who has yet to sign a contract extension with the Minnesota Wild. The two sides expressed interest in a contract extension, but no deal has come to fruition just yet. The longer it has taken without a deal, the more rumblings there have been about Hughes potentially moving on from the Wild.
Is one team worth keeping an eye on the Flyers? Apparently so.
Flyers are a team worth keeping an eye on in Quinn Hughes saga
The Athletic's Kevin Kurz recently published a mailbag article answering questions from Flyers fans. When asked about the likelihood of a select number of stars making their way to Philadelphia. Kurz said it is worth monitoring the Hughes situation in Minnesota, while mentioning how the defenseman's relationships with Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet and center Trevor Zegras.
"Here’s what we know and have reported here before: Hughes had a great relationship with Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet in Vancouver and is good friends with Trevor Zegras," writes Kurz. "The Flyers were interested in Hughes last season before he was dealt to the Minnesota Wild but were informed the Vancouver Canucks had no interest in moving him here."
Before joining the Wild, Hughes was with the Vancouver Canucks. His coach for three seasons was Tocchet. The duo made it to the playoffs in the 2023-24 season, where they made it to the second round of the playoffs. So, the fact that Hughes enjoyed his time playing for Tocchet would be a plus.
Additionally, Hughes is friends with Zegras. Back in 2025, Zegras said in an interview with ESPN's Greg Wyshynski that he's glad he no longer had to face Hughes regularly, since the two were in the same division while he was with the Ducks. The reasoning? Because Zegras called Hughes "the best hockey player of all-time." Maybe the two can be teammates in Philadelphia?
Those are two factors that could work in the favor of the Flyers if the Hughes saga takes a turn in the wrong direction in Minnesota. No one knows what is truly going on. Wild general manager Bill Guerin is stressing patience, but the lack of any substantial updates, as the season gets closer, opens the door for panic from the Wild and excitement for other fanbases that would love to have Hughes on their teams.
What would it take for Flyers to acquire Quinn Hughes via trade?
Flyers fans are now probably asking, "what would it take for the team to acquire Hughes in a trade if the defenseman cuts off talks with the Wild?" Well, Kurz does mention that considering that a contract extension would likely have to be agreed upon, considering it would have to take a combination of high draft picks and young player to get a trade done.
"If you’re the Flyers, any Hughes trade would naturally have to include a contract extension, considering they would have to part with some future assets, at minimum," writes Kurz. "If Hughes wants a three-year extension — which would make him an unrestricted free agent in 2030, the same year as his brother, Jack, in New Jersey, would become a free agent — I would guess that would be palatable for the club. It would give them some runway to become a true contender if you assume the young players on the roster continue to progress."
It's the worst-kept secret in the hockey world that Hughhes has no desire to sign a long-term contract extension. According to multiple insiders and reporters, the belief is that Quinn is open to signing a three-year extension, as that would allow him to line up his free agency with his younger brother and New Jersey Devils star, Jack Hughes. Jack is set to hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2030. Jack has let it be known he wants to play on the same team with Quinn and Luke. Lining up their free agencies would allow for them to do so, while they are still in their relative prime.
Flyers fans, much as the rest of the NHL, has watched Devils fans fawn over every update regarding Quinn and the lack of progression in talks with the Wild. But what if the Flyers are able to do the seemingly unthinkable and get Quinn before the Devils?
The Flyers have a plethora of young players tht they could dangle in a trade for Quinn if they so choose. Not to mention, they have a bunch of high draft picks at their disposal to make a trade. After all, they were willing to give up four first-round picks to the Ducks if they didn't match Carlsson's offer sheet. So, they have the assets to send shockwaves across the NHL. While Carlsson would be an upgrade for the Flyers, he is not on the level of Hughes.
Now, Flyers fans have more reason to pay attention to the Hughes saga in Philadelphia.
Add us as a preferred source on Google